Shiv Sena forms grand alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa Suraksha Manch for Assembly polls

The Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) and Shiv Sena on Tuesday announced the formation of a grand alliance for the upcoming Goa Legislative Assembly elections.   

"All three parties will opt for seat sharing during the upcoming Goa polls. This would be a grand alliance between like-minded forces," MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar said in Panaji in the presence of RSS rebel leader Subhash Velingkar representing GSM and Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena.     

The alliance, which is contesting in all 35 out of the 40 seats in the Goa Assembly has announced Sudin as their chief ministerial face.   Dhavalikar said Shiv Sena will contest on four seats ?Saligao, Thivim, Cuncolim and Mormugao, and GSM on six seats ?Siolim, Panaji, Mayem, Sankhali, Curchorem and Velim constituencies.    

On rest of the seats, MGP will field it candidates.     

"Once we form the government, the first and foremost decision would be taken to withdraw government grants given to schools having English as Medium of Instruction (MOI),"Velingkar said.     

He said education in English is against the universalprinciples and unnatural as worldwide it is established thatteaching should be only in mother tongue.     

The alliance partners have also decided to form aco-ordination committee with Velingkar as its convenor.     "The co-ordination committee will be a channel betweenall the three parties to communicate among themselves,"Velingkar said.     

He also stated that the alliance partners will form acommon minimum programme which would be the focus point of thealliance.     Responding to a question, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Rautsaid the alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra wasthe longest political understanding in the country which wasallegedly broken by BJP for political benefits (in 2014polls).   

 "Shiv Sena is known for abiding by alliance and it willalso do the same in Goa with allies," Raut added.